About Us

Institute Director

John Madigan, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVIM - Director

Caring for animals and improving their lives has been the life's work of IAWTI director John Madigan. Dr. Madigan has made many discoveries and inventions which directly improve the lives of animals worldwide on a daily basis. He is board certified in internal medicine and the author of over 250 peer reviewed and proceeding scientific publications and the editor of two textbooks on the care of foals. When he saw the need for better care of weak and compromised horses sent to the veterinary hospital at UC he invented state of the art slings using skeletal system support which are now used to safely lift horses recovering from injury or anesthesia and to airlift stranded horses to safety. He developed a sling for down cattle in which is now being used on dairies to help injured cattle. John founded the UC Davis Veterinary Emergency Response Team which has gained national attention as a Medical Reserve Corp under the Office of the Surgeon General. He has responded to floods, fires and other disasters to aid animals in California and nationally. Dr Madigan is a member of the California Animal Emergency Response Steering Committee, and the American Association of Equine Practitioners Welfare committee. Dr. Madigan is the principle investigator of the 2010-2012 Animals in Disasters grant from CAL-EMA to train emergency responders in safe and humane animal related rescue, sheltering and preparedness. Dr. Madigan's efforts have not gone unnoticed by his veterinary colleagues and in 2006 he received the national honor of the American Veterinary Medical Association animal welfare award, and School of Veterinary Medicine Alumni Achievement award in 2007. His devotion to improve animal wellbeing led to the dean appointing him as the first Director of the International Animal Welfare Training Institute in 2008.